Lawsuit reform bid goes to governor
State lawsuit reform bid goes to governor

Comments Comment on this article9

By Michael McNutt
Published: May 8, 2008

House Republican legislators led the charge Wednesday to pass a measure that would require an expert opinion confirming professional negligence before a lawsuit could be filed.

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The measure is headed to the governor, who is expected to veto it.

The measure, an amendment to House Bill 2458, closely resembles legislation passed in 2004 that the state Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional, said Paul Sund, a spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry.

In an 8-1 decision in 2006, the state's high court ruled that the cost associated with so-called certificates of merit placed an undue financial burden on people seeking access to justice. Sund said HB 2458 "is in direct conflict with that Supreme Court ruling.”

The bill struck down by the court applied only to medical malpractice cases.

Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, said he expects the governor will support HB 2458.

Sund said the governor has expressed concern over language in the bill.


 

Related Topics: U.S. Government, Politics, U.S. Politics, U.S. Congressional News, Judiciary, U.S. Courts, Trials, Political Parties, U.S. Republican Party Politics

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If anyone is going to refer to the McDonald's Coffee case, please look it up and see the facts of that particular case. Google it. If you think that's a bad example of lawsuit abuse, you're an ignoramous.
Kevin, Oklahoma City - May 12, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Don't forget the lawyers--they ALWAYS seem to come out on top. Too many of them become politicians...
Kevin, Oklahoma City - May 8, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Sounds to me as the score is lobbyist 1, citizens 0.
Lawrence, Guthrie - May 8, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Wait a minute...so if you're a lawyer who takes on a lawsuit, if you lose, 1/3 or 1/2 of nothing is still nothing, but if you have to present evidence first, you can still bill for it. Oh, those wascally weepugs!
Kevin, Oklahoma City - May 8, 2008 at 10:23 am
Kevin & Kirby, esquires. You guys lawyers or just idiots that drive around hoping that you get run over by a Chesapeake Energy executive? ///Next time you go to the voting booth and "vote for the person, not the party" remember the House's vote in this one. If you're a trial lawyer (or kevin or kirby), vote for the democrat. The rest of us, if we want to keep our employers, doctors, and dentists from going bankrupt, the GOP is the obvious choice in OK. Certainly as far as the House of Reps goes. Carey and Roan once again vote the way their leaders order instead of for their constituents' best interests.
Floyd R, Purtle - May 8, 2008 at 8:26 am
...sounds like the repugs must have more to lose if they get sued...
Kevin, Oklahoma City - May 8, 2008 at 8:10 am
except the lawyer part.
Zeb, Oklahoma City - May 8, 2008 at 7:21 am
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John, youre smarter than all the Republican politicians who dont realize they are screwing their wives and kids with tort reform. What lapdogs they are.
Zeb, Oklahoma City - May 8, 2008 at 7:20 am
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There does need to be some kind of tort reform. People get ridiculous awards for stupid injuries like coffee burns. Then people who are made paraplegics in accidents get ridiculously low amounts. Its like the people in the Minnesota bridge collapse will get $400,000. I'm sorry, if the crosstown I-40 goes down under my car, I want them to pony up seven figures of Benjamins because it has needed replacing for at least 20 years. Now if you could get lawyers out of the mix it would help. They get 1/3 to 1/2 of awards depending on level of involvement. Thats how they come to have helicopters, jets, 5 homes, Jaguars, and trips to Fiji.
John, Stigler - May 8, 2008 at 6:43 am
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